HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SWIMMING: Finnerty shines for Lawrence boys against Steinert

HAMILTON — Peter Finnerty has put in three years of hard work, and now its time to enjoy the reward.

Finnerty has experienced some success in his first three years with the Lawrence High boys swim team, but nothing close to what he figures to accomplish in his senior season.

Finnerty got off to an auspicious start in Tuesdays season opener, winning two events and helping a relay win on the way to leading the Cards to a 96-74 win over Steinert at the Spartans poolroom.

Finnerty won both the 50-yard freestyle (50.98) and the 100-yard freestyle (50.98). More importantly than the win, Finnerty is already down in the 22’s and 50’s, times that it takes most swimmers until February to reach.

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“It’s real exciting for Peter (Finnerty) He’s always been an animal since he was a little freshman,” said Cards coach Mike Underwood, “Its exciting to watch him grow into the senior and leader that he is as well as be in the center of the pool and separating himself.

Finnerty swam the opening leg of the 200-medley relay team which swam a time of 1:46.00 to take first place. Swimming along with Finnerty were Jack Hargraves-Dix, Pat Thornton and Matt Franceschini

“I am really happy to see how we are all balanced out this year. We lost a lot of great swimmers last year but we are interested to see how this year will turn out,” Finnerty said.

Finnerty led a sweep in the 100-free. He was followed by John Waaben (54.97) in second and Franceschini (55.6) in third.

“We have always been good at freestyle but I don’t think we expected to sweep. It was nice to see the freshman step up. Last year Steinert came to our pool and beat us in a close meet. They won in the last race so we came in trying to use our depth and beat them in every lane of the pool, not just the center,” Finnerty said.

Pat Lavery and Thornton won the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.00) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:14.32) respectively for Lawrence to assist in the winning effort.

Steinert was shorthanded because of a class trip, but their team leaders delivered some wins as senior Zach Mabin won the 200-yard individual medley (2:07.23) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.50). Like Finnerty, Mabin also figures to have a remarkable senior campaign. Senior Tyler Gulsby also won two for the Spartans. Gulsby won the 100-yard backstroke (59.94) and the 100-yard butterfly (57.02).